Les Costello
This article needs additional citations for verification. (March 2018) |
Fr. Leslie John Thomas Costello | |||
---|---|---|---|
Born |
South Porcupine, Ontario , Canada | February 16, 1928||
Died |
December 10, 2002 Toronto, Ontario, Canada | (aged 74)||
Height | 5 ft 8 in (173 cm) | ||
Weight | 158 lb (72 kg; 11 st 4 lb) | ||
Position | Left wing | ||
Shot | Left | ||
Played for | Toronto Maple Leafs | ||
Playing career | 1946–1950 |
Fr. Leslie John Thomas Costello (February 16, 1928 – December 10, 2002) was a Canadian ice hockey player and Catholic priest.
He was born in
Costello retired from professional hockey in 1950 to pursue seminary studies at St. Augustine's Seminary, and was ordained in 1957.[1] After serving briefly in Kirkland Lake, he took a parish in his hometown of Timmins,[1] where he was widely respected for both his flamboyant, fun-loving demeanor and his tireless commitment to social justice and charity work.
Flying Fathers
In 1963, Costello and colleague Brian McKee founded the Flying Fathers, a group of Catholic priests who played exhibition hockey. Originally intended as a one-time charity event, the Fathers became a phenomenon, regularly touring North America to raise money for charity, and were still active as of 2005.
In 1979, Costello got lost for over 24 hours on a camping trip, and subsequently had several toes amputated due to
As a result of the media coverage, Francis Ford Coppola offered the Fathers a movie option. He brought Wayne Gretzky to Hollywood to audition for the role of Costello, but the film fell apart when Gretzky's acting ability proved unable to carry a film. (However, it was on that trip that Gretzky first met his future wife, Janet Jones.)
For the 25th anniversary of Costello's ordination in 1982, friends and parishioners took up a collection to buy Costello a truck for use in his charity work. Instead, Costello sold the vehicle and used the money to buy furniture and food for needy families.
Death and legacy
At a Flying Fathers game in Kincardine in 2002, Costello had a puck get stuck in his skates, making him fall backwards and hit his head on the ice. Still feeling unwell the following day, he was admitted to hospital, where he slipped into a coma and died a week later on December 10.[1]
As his parish was unable to accommodate the crowds expected for his funeral, the service was held in Timmins' McIntyre Arena. Thousands from all over the country were reputed to have been at the funeral. Timmins native Shania Twain issued a statement of tribute to Costello:
Father Costello has been there for my family many times over the years. Whether it was to find my grandmother a second-hand fridge; marry my parents; give our family funeral services – including our beloved Mom and Dad; or just plain joining in on a good joke. He's always quick to smile and share his zest for life. The goodness of God is with this very special man and he shares that spirit with everyone around him. We all love him.
Writer and politician
Career statistics
Regular season and playoffs
Regular season
|
Playoffs | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
1943–44 | South Porcupine Porkies | NOHA | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1944–45
|
Toronto St. Michael's Majors | OHA | 17 | 11 | 8 | 19 | 4 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 7 | ||
1944–45 | Toronto St. Michael's Majors | M-Cup | — | — | — | — | — | 14 | 8 | 8 | 16 | 14 | ||
1945–46
|
Toronto St. Michael's Majors | OHA | 24 | 17 | 23 | 40 | 17 | 11 | 8 | 10 | 18 | 12 | ||
1946–47
|
Toronto St. Michael's Majors | OHA | 29 | 29 | 33 | 62 | 78 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 16 | 13 | ||
1946–47 | Barrie Flyers | M-Cup | — | — | — | — | — | 10 | 12 | 9 | 21 | 13 | ||
1947–48 | Pittsburgh Hornets | AHL | 68 | 32 | 22 | 54 | 40 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | ||
1947–48 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 | ||
1948–49 | Pittsburgh Hornets | AHL | 46 | 13 | 19 | 32 | 63 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1948–49 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 15 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 11 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1949–50 | Pittsburgh Hornets | AHL | 70 | 18 | 31 | 49 | 69 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1949–50 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
AHL totals | 184 | 63 | 72 | 135 | 172 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | ||||
NHL totals | 15 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 11 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 |
References
- ^ a b c d e "Father Les Costello". The Telegraph. December 19, 2002. Retrieved April 1, 2021.
- WBUR. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
- ^ "Father Les Costello". Timmins Sports Heritage Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on July 12, 2018. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
- ^ "'Flying Father' founder honoured in Timmins". Northern Ontario. April 24, 2024. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
- ^ Hoggett, Maija (April 26, 2024). "Father Les Costello statue makes triumphant return to Timmins". Sudbury.com. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
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External links
- Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or The Internet Hockey Database
- Flying Fathers
- "Schumacher's saint: Fr. Les Costello" by Charlie Angus in Catholic New Times
- Les Costello profile at the Catholic Educator's Resource Center
- Picture of Les Costello's Name on the 1948 Stanley Cup Plaque